Religion: National Day of Prayer to unite voices

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

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By DEBRA RYAN

southcoasttoday.com

By DEBRA RYAN

Posted Apr. 26, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By DEBRA RYAN
Posted Apr. 26, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Local prayer events

Local National Day of Prayer observances on Thursday include:Acushnet Town Hall, 122 Main St., Acushnet; prayer leader David Slivinski; 6 to 6:45 p.m.Dartmouth Town Hall, 400 Slocum Road, D...

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

— 2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV

Christians throughout the nation are preparing for the National Day of Prayer on Thursday.

Through the course of history, many of our presidents have called upon the nation to set aside a day for prayer. In 1952, President Harry Truman signed a joint resolution of Congress to establish an annual National Day of Prayer. To provide consistency, President Ronald Reagan signed an amendment to that law in 1988, declaring that day be held each year on the first Thursday of May.

"This is the greatest country on the planet," said Steven Bouley, National Day of Prayer coordinator for Bristol County. "We are one of the few who are allowed to come together to pray and the only country in the world with a government-sanctioned National Day of Prayer."

In his 2013 proclamation of the day, President Barack Obama stated that since the first settlers ventured to the New World, "... Americans have prayed as a means of uniting, guiding, and healing. In times of hardship and tragedy, and in periods of peace and prosperity, prayer has provided reassurance, sustenance, and affirmation of common purpose."

The proclamation concludes, "I join the citizens of our Nation in giving thanks, in accordance with our own faiths and consciences, for our many freedoms and blessings, and in asking for God's continued guidance, mercy, and protection."

Pastor Jeanne O'Leary, the Fairhaven facilitator for the event, said the day's prayers are focused on personal and national repentance and target seven important areas: our government, military, media, education, churches, business and family.

"As a country, we are not going in the right direction," O'Leary said. "That is evident by what is going on in the world. In our schools we have seen increases in crime and major deterioration since prayer was removed. We need to come together as one voice reaching out."

This year the theme set by the National Day of Prayer Task Force, "One Voice United in Prayer," encourages individuals to place their faith in their Creator. Romans 15:6 is the corresponding scripture: "So that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ."

"Every single day should be a day of prayer," Pastor Larry Avila, former state coordinator, said. Having worked on the project for more than 20 years, he knows just how much effort and time is put in to make everything come together.

"There is a national task force based in Colorado Springs, Colo.," Avila said. "We are in constant communication with them. It is not just this one day — the very next day, we begin praying for the next year's day of prayer. There are conference calls, all-night prayers, and praying with people in different time zones and different countries.

"We even have prayer flights, where pilots who donate their time are granted permission to fly over different cities all over the nation," he said.

As the task force's web site makes clear, "This government-proclaimed day is offered to all Americans, regardless of religion, to celebrate their faith through prayer. However, the efforts of the NDP Task Force are executed specifically in accordance with its Judeo-Christian beliefs."

"This is a well-oiled organization, on a national and state level and throughout Bristol County," Bouley said.

"When you have a relationship with God, He reveals Himself to you. When you know Him, you want to follow Him," he said. "He knows everything and has your best interest in mind."

"This specialness doesn't make us better than anyone else," O'Leary said. "You are entitled to use the talents that God gave you to bring success into your life."

Not everyone feels this way, according to Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Families Ministries, whose family and organization have been involved with the National Day of Prayer for many years.

"There are organizations with the sole purpose to challenge the Constitutionality of prayer," Dobson said in a DVD presentation of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.

"The National Day of Prayer organization has been sued a number of times," he added. "We are a nation that desperately needs prayer."

Rev. Billy Graham, honorary chairman in 2001, also said, "To get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees."

The National Day of Prayer Task Force promotes the restoration the country's base on the documented faith of our founding fathers.

"Those who are unable to attend a National Day of Prayer gathering, are encouraged to take time to pray alone, with family members at home, or at their workplace," Bouley said.